Christine Savino | News Contributor
In recent weeks, Serbia witnessed significant anti-corruption protests, triggered when the canopy of the recently renovated Novi Sad railway station collapsed on November 1, 2024 and resulted in 15 fatalities. This disaster has been widely attributed to government corruption and substandard construction practices as part of larger infrastructure projects with Chinese state companies, leading to widespread public dissent against President Aleksandar Vučić and his administration.
The Novi Sad railway station renovation project, completed in July 2024, was a high-profile initiative under President Vučić’s administration and funded as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative to enhance trade between China and Europe. Investigations spurred by the collapse revealed that contractors involved in the project had close ties to government officials, raising allegations of nepotism and improper awarding of contracts. Opposition parties have called for a comprehensive investigation into the project’s financing and the quality of materials used, which have been widely criticised as substandard. Radomir Lazović, co-chief of the Green-Left Front party, condemned Vesić by stating that he “is one of the people most responsible for massive corruption in construction, for the policy of secret contracts with investors, and this is now leaving behind human victims.”
In addition to dissent on the project itself, some have also critiqued the government’s response to the Novi Sad railway station collapse. Dragan Đjilas, leader of the centre-left Freedom and Justice Party (SSP), expressed frustration over the lack of arrests following the railway tragedy, stating, “People who attended protests have been arrested ... yet those truly responsible remain free.”
Allegations and instances of corruption have historically been a persistent issue in Serbia, with the country ranking in the bottom half of global rule of law indices. Throughout the 1990s, under Slobodan Milošević’s regime, corruption, and cronyism became endemic. The regime controlled the economy through state capture alongside international isolation, and heavily influenced the judiciary with political pressure and impunity for loyalists. Although the early 2000s saw various democratic reforms, such as the establishment of the National Anti-Corruption Council, many structural issues stemming from the regime persisted. Analysts have suggested that the concentration of power under Vučić’s leadership, including through reported Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) interference with the independent judiciary, has exacerbated these problems, undermining institutional independence and enabling corrupt practices.
Protests and Public Response
The Novi Sad railway incident immediately prompted widespread protests across Serbia. Tens of thousands of citizens gathered in cities, including Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš, and Kragujevac, to express their anger and demand accountability. In Belgrade, protesters rallied outside of government buildings, including the Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure, with banners reading “Corruption kills” and “Blood on your hands,” symbolising their frustration with government impunity.
Serbian university students emerged as key organisers of the protests. They initiated strikes, suspended classes, and occupied university buildings to demand accountability for the Novi Sad disaster. On December 11, 2024, students rallied outside the chief prosecutor's office in Belgrade, urging legal action against those responsible for the disaster. This created logistical challenges for the government, prompting President Aleksandar Vučić to vow to meet all of their requests.
Despite Vučić’s decision to agree to protestors’ demands, the month culminated in a large-scale demonstration on December 22, 2024 in Belgrade’s Slavija Square. This drew an estimated 100,000 participants, making it one of the largest protests in modern history. The protestors demanded President Vučić’s resignation and systemic reforms to address corruption. They marched through the capital, concluding with a sit-in outside the National Assembly, where they reiterated their demands. Miroslav Aleksić, president of the opposition party National Movement of Serbia (NPS), stated, “the most important thing now is for Serbia to stand up, because there is no restart without a general strike.”
Government Response
In response to mounting protests, President Vučić acknowledged the gravity of the tragedy and vowed that those responsible for the collapse would face consequences, stating, “competent authorities will establish who is criminally responsible for the tragedy that befell the country.” However, critics argue that the administration’s response has been insufficient and overly defensive, particularly since Vučić accused opposition parties of exploiting the tragedy to destabilise his government.
The government extended winter school holidays and suspended university classes, measures perceived by many as attempts to suppress dissent rather than address its root causes. Reports of arrests and alleged police violence against protesters have further fuelled public outrage. In December, the government heightened the presence of law enforcement at demonstrations and increased surveillance of protest organisers, leading to additional allegations of intimidation and heavy-handed tactics.
International Implications
The protests have potential impacts beyond Serbia’s borders. The European Union, which Serbia has formally aspired to join since 2012, has emphasised the importance of transparency and the rule of law. Serbia’s pursuit of EU membership is already complicated by strong connections with both Russia and China, the latter of which faced heavy criticism in the wake of the Novi Sad railway station collapse. President Aleksandar Vučić, emphasising Serbia's stance of political neutrality, has consistently vowed not to support Western sanctions imposed on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine. Likewise, lawmakers in Serbia’s national parliament are considering a draft law, inspired by Russia’s “foreign agents” legislation, which seeks to create a registry for organisations and individuals that receive over 50% of their funding from foreign sources. Critics within Serbia and abroad warn that the law could label civil society organisations as foreign entities, disrupt their activities, and threaten freedom of expression, raising concerns about its compatibility with democratic principles and EU standards. In addition, on 16 December 2024, Amnesty International published a report titled A Digital Prison: Surveillance and the Suppression of Civil Society in Serbia, alleging that the Serbian Police and the Security Information Agency (BIA) is utilising digital surveillance and repression tactics to subvert civil society , including the recent demonstrators. Denying the accusations, the BIA slammed the report as “nonsensical” and “absolutely incorrect.”
These setbacks for Serbia’s EU candidacy come amid broader challenges facing aspiring EU member states. For instance, in late December 2024, Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder of the ruling Georgian Dream Party, was sanctioned by the US for halting EU accession until 2028 due to Georgia’s pro-Russia policies and anti-government protests. Other Western Balkan efforts to join the EU are likewise facing significant obstacles, potentially signalling similar challenges for Serbia’s membership pursuit. In December 2024 alone, Bosnia and Herzegovina suspended EU integration due peace concerns, and Albania was marred with protests and warned by the EU that violence will not help it obtain membership.
Looking Forward
The anti-corruption protests represent a significant challenge to President Vučić’s administration, highlighting deep public discontent with alleged government misconduct, lack of transparency, and democratic backsliding. While Vučić retains support among specific segments of the population, particularly among older voters in rural areas, the scale and intensity of the protests, which have drawn diverse groups including students, activists, and opposition figures, underscore widespread dissatisfaction and potential impediments on the country’s long-standing pursuit of EU membership. This unrest could also impede Serbia’s long-standing pursuit of EU membership, drawing attention to critical issues such as judicial independence, media freedom, and system corruption. The government’s ability to address protesters’ demands and implement meaningful reforms will be crucial in determining Serbia’s political trajectory.
